“How?”
He didn’t reply, not telling her she’d left footprints in the garden and a piece of her hem had torn, caught in a low branch. “You don’t have to thank me.”
“You helped me heal. Ever patient and understanding of what I went through.”
“It was a mutual healing.” Josiah covered her hand with his. “I didn’t go back east to marry, but to cancel any plans to do so.”
“Oh.” Laura looked to their entwined fingers, but didn’t make to move away. “Why?”
He lifted her chin with his free hand and kissed her. Soft and gentle gave way to hunger and passion. She pressed against him, giving him as much as he would take, her arms around his shoulders, her nails dug into his shirt. Laura was the woman he wanted. Didn’t want to ever let her go.
She pushed away and gasped, blinking up at him. “Oh goodness. I don’t know what brought that on. I should go.” Neither of them moved.
“When you said you wanted to say goodbye before you left, what did you mean?” Josiah asked.
“I’m moving east with the Watts next month. They offered me a position as caregiver for their daughter.”
“Is that what you want?” Josiah’s stomach pitched not knowing exactly how to ask her to marry him.
“Yes...well, it’s what I feel I need to do. I can’t live with my sister and her family forever.” She smiled at him and reached up to cradle his cheek. “Now that you’re not to marry, what are you going to do?”
“I’m still planning to get married,” he replied kicking himself when she let out a breath and looked down at the ground.
Laura walked away to where the cross remained in the ground. It leaned at an angle and she lowered and straightened it. “I wish you well, Josiah. I know you will be happy with whomever you decide to marry. She is a fortunate woman.”
“Why do you say that?” He crouched next to her to meet her eyes. “Will this woman have a good life with someone like me?”
“Of course.” She blinked and looked away. “You are everything I’d want in a husband.” A blush colored her cheeks and she pressed her lips together. “I mean your qualities of course. Caring, giving, honest.”
“I wasn’t honest with you,” Josiah took her hand and helped her up then guided her to sit on a large rock after laying his jacket over it. He proceeded to tell her the same truth he’d divulged to the Coles. “So you see, I am at a crossroads. Need to decide if I want to return east and into the place I was groomed for. Or remain here in Alder Gulch, purchase land and live this new life. A life I enjoy, but find quite lonely.”
She studied him for a few moments. “You didn’t lie, Josiah. I knew you were different, I suspected you were from a higher station of living by your mannerisms. At one point, I wondered if you were a prince.” She laughed at his wide eyes. “I may not have much experience in life, actually had a very cloistered existence. But I’ve always studied people. The few I had exposure to. I snuck books that belonged to Frank’s wife and devoured any bit of information I could.”
“I’m glad to not have fooled you then,” Josiah told her and then looked to Gabe’s small grave. “I would have liked to have known your son more.”
“Yes, he would have been almost two this month.” Laura smiled. “I should go. It’s getting late.”
He stood with her, his heart beating erratically. “Laura.” He flattened her hand over his chest. Whatever was the matter with him? He felt as if about to lose his breath.
“Are you ill?” She felt his forehead. “Josiah, what’s wrong.”
“I’m nervous,” he replied and went down to one knee.
She mistook his actions and gasped falling to her knees as well. “Oh goodness don’t pass out, I couldn’t possibly carry you anywhere. If I leave you here alone a bear could...”
He covered her mouth with his kiss until she responded in kind, then pulled away. “Marry me.”
“What? Oh!”
Several moments passed, her looking at him with confusion. Suddenly her expression brightened, her lips curved. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Yes,” Josiah swallowed. “Please.”
She looked to the small cross and then to him and grinned. “Yes.” She threw herself at him, her arms around his neck, her lips covering his face with kisses.
“I love you, Josiah.”
Minutes later, they walked to the road, arms around each other. Josiah lifted her to the wagon and she allowed him to kiss her once more. “I’ll tie my horse to the back and go with you.”
“Why?”
“I’ll accompany you to inform the Watts you’re leaving. You’re going to stay at the cottage with me. We will remain together forever. I don’t want you away from me. Ever.”
She took both sides of his shirt collar in her hands. “I am an independent woman now, Josiah. I will continue to work for Mrs. Watts until they leave in a few weeks. We will get married as soon as the preacher can do it. But not until then will I move to the cabin with you. I also wish to continue to attend the women’s bible study in town and...”
He kissed her, silencing Laura’s words and laughed. “Yes, ma’am. Anything you wish. Now, if you will allow me, I will accompany you to town so you won’t be caught in the dark.”
“Yes, Josiah, I would appreciate that.”
“And Laura...”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I know you do, Josiah. I know you do.”
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hildie McQueen is my pseudonym. Writing is my dream come true. There is nothing I love more than bringing my characters and stories to life and sharing them with you. I live in a small town in Georgia with my husband and two unruly Chihuahuas.
Make sure to look me up online:
http://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen
http://facebook.com/HildieMcQueen
http://www.hildiemcqueen.com
If you enjoyed The Darkest Blue please recommend it to you friends and family. I would appreciate a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
I answer all emails: [email protected]
Blue Horizon (Shades of Blue, Book 4) Page 7